How to Choose the Right Mattress

Learn how testing a mattress in person at Gardner Mattress helps you find comfort that lasts, with showrooms in Salem, Woburn, and Needham.

Choosing a mattress looks simple from the outside. You scroll through options, pick a size, read a few reviews, and hope you picked correctly.

In reality, comfort is personal. Two people can lie on the same mattress and have very different reactions. One person feels supported and relaxed. The other feels pressure in their shoulders or lower back. What works for you depends on how you sleep, what your body needs, and how the mattress is built.

Gardner Mattress has been helping New England sleepers sort that out for nearly a century. Our showrooms in Salem, Woburn, and Needham are where all of that experience comes to life. You get to slow down, lie on real mattresses, and listen to what your body is telling you.

Start With How You Actually Sleep

Before you plan your visit to a showroom, think about what your nights look like.

• Do you mostly sleep on your side, back, or stomach?
• Do you wake up with tight shoulders, a sore lower back, or a stiff neck?
• Do you run hot at night, even in winter?

Side sleepers usually need more pressure relief through the shoulders and hips. Back sleepers often feel better with more even support from shoulders to hips. Stomach sleepers need enough support to keep their midsection from sinking.

When you visit a Gardner Mattress showroom, our team will ask a few questions about how you sleep and what has and has not worked in the past. That is enough to start steering you toward the right comfort range.

What To Focus On When Testing a Mattress

Taking just a few minutes on each mattress can reveal a lot. While testing, pay attention to three things.

Alignment:

Your spine should feel level from the shoulders to the hips. If anything feels uneven, the comfort range is not right.

Gardner Tip: Try a variety of firmness levels during your showroom visit to compare alignment side by side.

Breathability:

If you sleep warm, natural fibers like cotton and wool make a noticeable difference. They help regulate temperature and keep you comfortable throughout the night.

Ease of movement:

You should be able to change positions without effort. High-quality support systems make moving feel smooth and natural.

Why Natural Materials Matter

After you get a feel for which comfort level works for your body, it helps to look at what each mattress is made of. Gardner uses natural materials in specific combinations, depending on the model. Nothing is overbuilt or overly complicated. Each design is crafted to deliver consistent support, breathability, and long-lasting comfort.

In the natural and organic models, you will see materials like organic cotton, New Zealand wool, natural latex, flax, and, in certain builds, long-strand horsehair. These layers are chosen because they manage temperature well, stay resilient over time, and create a steady, balanced feel when you lie down. Some designs lean into cotton and wool for cooler sleep. Others introduce latex for pressure relief or horsehair for a lifted, airy feel. 

Traditional models use premium cotton fabrics, tuned coil systems, and CertiPUR-US® certified foam. This line has two options. One is the Signature model, which has a firmer, more supportive feel. The other is the Comfort Support model, which adds extra cushioning for a softer top surface. Most shoppers can tell right away which direction suits them once they try both.

If you want a simple way to compare options in the showroom, let materials guide your first few tests:

• Wool and cotton blends are ideal for cooler, breathable comfort
• Natural latex provides gentle contouring without extra sink
• Horsehair creates a lifted, airy feel with strong airflow
• Traditional models use cotton, coils, and foam for either a firmer or softer feel
  

Learn more about our materials

From Testing to Choosing

Choosing the right mattress becomes much easier once you understand three things: how you sleep, how a mattress feels when you test it, and what materials shape that comfort over time. When you put those pieces together, the best option tends to reveal itself quickly. That clarity is exactly why our showrooms in Salem, Woburn, and Needham exist. You can compare real builds side by side, feel how natural materials change the experience, and get guidance from a team that works with these designs every day.

Most visitors find their best fit within a few minutes of honest testing. From there, the rest is simple. You take home a mattress that supports the way you live and sleep, built with care from the inside out.

Plan your visit or contact our team to schedule a consultation. We are here to help you find comfort that lasts.